ISL 2018-19: Chennaiyin FC seek season's first win against NorthEast United

Chennaiyin FC and NorthEast United FC have faced each other on eight occasions with the latter coming on top four times while today's home team secured wins in two games

Having lost both their matches so far, defending champions Chennaiyin FC will want to settle for nothing less than a victory when they face NorthEast United FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai on Thursday.

After an away loss to Bengaluru FC in their campaign opener, Chennaiyin were outclassed by an attack-minded FC Goa at home on October 6.

However, coach John Gregory is not losing faith in his players, despite being unable to win a point from their first two matches.

NorthEast United, on the other hand, are a revamped unit under the tutelage of Dutch tactician Eelco Schattorie. With former PSG forward Bartholomew Ogbeche leading the attack, the Guwahati based club will offer a threat to any defence in the league.

NEU FC coach Schattorie felt the team can compete with any other side in the ISL.

"Chennai has more individual quality than us. They have a few weaknesses and hopefully, we can exploit that, said the Dutch coach.

Schattorie saw his side go toe-to-toe with a dominant FC Goa and match up to their attacking football, clinching a 2-2 draw.

"It is always difficult (after a break). The biggest challenge is to adapt to the humidity in Chennai. It was really hot when we trained in the morning. Evening seems to be better, he added.

In the 2017-18 season, the Highlanders were handed a 3-0 drubbing by Chennaiyin and will be looking to exact revenge with the defending champions not in the best of forms. NEU FC will go into the match high on confidence while Chennaiyin are in search of some spark to spur their campaign.

SQUADS: For Chennaiyin FC, striker Jeje Lalpekhlua will hope for better service from midfield after drawing blanks in the two games so far. In the absence of injured Dhanpal Ganesh, Anirudh Thapa and Germanpreet Singh will be expected to step up and shore up the midfield, allowing the likes of Raphael Augusto to venture forward in attack.

"Jeje has that capability. He just needs to stay relaxed and be focused. Once they get the first goal, everything else follows up. Similarly, a win is all we need to turn our season around," Gregory said.

The momentum, though, is firmly with the visitors and they will do their best to deny Chennaiyin their first win of the season.

NorthEast United, under Eelco Schattorie, made a strong start to the tournament. After an exciting 2-2 draw against FC Goa at home, they defeated a strong ATK side in Kolkata.

The team will miss the services of goalkeeper TP Rehenesh due to his involvement in an incident in the game against ATK. The All-India Football Association's Disciplinary Committee has put him under interim suspension for acting violently against an ATK player.

RECENT FORM: Chennaiyin FC have had a miserable start to the campaign with two back-to-back losses. They have scored just one goal despite taking a pop at the goal eight times. The team has a passing accuracy of 71.18 per cent. On the other hand, NorthEast United FC have scored thrice in two games in which they have won and drawn. They have a passing accuracy of 75.87 per cent.

HEAD-TO-HEAD: Chennaiyin FC and NorthEast United FC have faced each other on eight occassions with the latter coming on top in four occassions while today's home team secured wins in two games.

 

MANAGERS SPEAK: The barren run is not something that Gregory is used to. They've struggled for bits in the past, and the English coach remains confident that they can now turn the corner.

"NorthEast have had a fantastic start to the season but they have never finished in the play-off spot. But we have to respect them. They beat ATK and almost beat Goa. They should have won that game. But I have to show belief in my players. They have the capability to win it for us," said Gregory.

"We can compete with any ISL team but Chennai has more individual quality than us. They have a few weaknesses and hopefully, we can exploit that," said the Dutch coach.

Schattorie saw his side go toe-to-toe with a dominant FC Goa and match up to their attacking football, clinching a 2-2 draw. Then they went on to defeat ATK in Kolkata. Schattorie is mindful of the individual quality Chennaiyin possesses, and the soaring temperature in Chennai is not lost on him either.

"It is always difficult (after a break). The biggest challenge is to adapt to the humidity in Chennai. It was really hot when we trained in the morning. Evening seems to be better," said Schattorie.

Rowllin Borges, Federico Gallego and Bartholomew Ogbeche have done well for the team from the north-east. Nigerian Ogbeche, the former PSG striker, has been good upfront and will look to improve NEU FC's efficiency in front of goal.

The Croatian duo of Mato Grgic and Mislav Komorski will marshal the defence with Rowllin Borges playing the anchor role in midfield.

PROBABLE XIs:

Chennaiyin FC: Karanjit Singh, Inigo Calderon, Mailson Alves (C), Eli Sabia, Jerry Lalrinzuala, Germanpreet Singh, Anirudh Thapa, Francisco Fernandes, Raphael Augusto, Gregory Nelson, Jeje Lalpekhlua

NorthEast United: Pawan Kumar, Reagan Singh, Mislav Komorski, Mato Grgic, Robert Lalthlamuana, Jose Leudo, Rowllin Borges, Redeem Tlang, Federico Gallego, Nikhil Kadam, Bartholomew Ogbeche (C)

HEAD-TO-HEAD: Chennaiyin FC and NorthEast United FC have faced each other on eight occassions with the latter coming on top in four occassions while today's home team secured wins in two games.